Canoe race is May 2

By Gloria Austin  
Staff Writer
    The Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race has a category fitting to every paddler’s ability — novice to advanced — on Saturday, May 2.
These paddlers ride the rapids on the Meduxnekeag River during last year’s race
   The Houlton race has 30 categories, and a paddler will be placed in a division to race against other paddlers of equal ability and similar equipment.
    Paddlers will strike out at 10 a.m. from the Wellington residence on the Station Road in New Limerick and finish the eight-mile course at the boat landing under the Highland Avenue bridge.
    Organizers are hoping for a good weather and water conditions, unlike the first two races of the season.
    “The St. George River Race was low, but technical,” said Peter Blood, paddler and Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race organizer. “The Passagassawakeag was very high water with some real danger built in.”
    Blood said the Marsh Stream and Souadabscook races on April 11 and 12 may be changed, if the rain keeps falling.
    Registration for the Meduxnekeag River race will be from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Wellingtons. For those wanting to pre-register, Blood will take those registrations at his home at 3 Washburn St. in Houlton. Early registration guarantees a race T-shirt.
    A new division this year is the Senior Citizen category. Either both paddlers or a single paddler must be 62 or older.